Calamity Jane
Louise Gold
starred in the title role, as Calamity Jane herself, at Leicester Haymarket 22
November 1994 - 28 January 1995
As a musical
Calamity Jane started out as a film, but hasn’t often been scene as a
professional stage show, this productions leading lady summed it up by saying:
“The film is a
classic, but on stage it’s different. There’s more dance, more songs, great
costumes and that special magic that only comes on stage. It’s music and comedy
and fun, but there’s also that tough real life element in the story.” Louise
Gold to Liz Gilbey, THE LEICESTER MERCURY, Friday 18 November 1994, THE WEEK
section, p10.
Cast
Calamity Jane - Louise Gold
Wild Bill Hickock - Ricco Ross
Katie Brown - Liz Izen
Lieutenant
Henry Miller - James Head
Rattlesnake - Alan Mosley
Francis Fryer - James Duke
Peter - Alan Mosley
Hank - Phillip Alden
Other parts played by:
Phillip Alden, Ralph Anderson, Graeme Conway, Matthew Finch, Richard Laing, Stuart McLeod, Paul Nield, Greg Pichery, Graham Soutar, Cressida Carre, Nicole Carty, Lisa Davies, Angela Haydock, Catherine Hoskins, Jill-Louise Hydes & Marcia Tricker.
Production Team
Adapted for the stage by - Charles
K Freeman
from a screenplay by - James
O'Hanlon (Warner Brothers)
Music - Sammy Fain
Lyrics - Paul Francis Webster
Orchestral & Vocal
arrangements - Philip J Lang
Director - Paul Kerryson
Décor - Paul Farnsworth
Lighting - Chris Ellis
Sound - Frank Bradley
Choreography - David Needham
Musical Director - Julian Kelly
The shows
designer
It has been
noted that Louise Gold delayed a stint of puppeteering on Sesame Street, so as to appear in this
production of Calamity Jane.
One could say
that during this production Louise Gold came of age as a professional
stage actress, as it is quite likely that one of her performances in this show
took place exactly 21 years to the day of her professional stage debut in Dick Whittington.
Louise Gold, and Alan Mosely had previously appeared
at The Leicester Haymarket in Merrily We Roll Along (Stage Production). and on that cast’s Merrily We Roll Along (Recording)
Julian
Kelly’s conducting can be heard
on Simply Musicals, The Great Musicals - Wonderful Tales, The Great Musicals – Dashing Heroes,
Blushing Maidens, The Best Of The
Musicals, and, 100 Hits Musicals.
Louise Gold, and, Stuart McLeod had previously
appeared together in Anything Goes, one
of Louise’s other starring musical roles.
Hal Fowler’s recording credits include Encore The Very Best From The
Musicals.
Hal Fowler, and, James Head’s
recording credits include Magic Of The
Musicals, which also includes some of Julian
Kelly’s conducting.
Liz Izen
may have previously taken part in Thing A
Thon.
Critics
Comments
"Full
marks to Louise Gold in the title role and Ricco Ross as Wild Bill Hickock.
Their playing of the central characters is more than enough to dispel any
memories of Doris Day and Howard Keel." "From the aspect of songs
it's a woman's musical, not only is there Gold as the larger than life Calamity
but also Liz Izen as Katie Brown, giving audiences full value for their money."
Quentin Clark, THE STAGE
"Louise
just blazed through it, demolishing everyone else in it! The audience adored
her." Peter Gannaway, WORDS AND MUSIC
“As the tough
tender-hearted tomboy, Louise Gold is strong and charismatic enough to avoid comparison
with Doris Day.” Liz Gilbey, THE LEICESTER MERCURY, Wednesday 23
November 1994, p41
Links about Calamity Jane
Muppet Central/Tibby's Bowl Interview with Louise Gold http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/interviews/gold.shtml
James
Head's website: http://www.jameshead.freeserve.co.uk/g4.html Photograph of James Head and another male cast
member.
Hal Fowler’s Official website: http://www.halfowler.co.uk/web/cjbio.html section on Calamity Jane.
